Archives December 2023

Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ has been officially listed online. Earlier this month, the company had confirmed that the new phone would in launched in January. Along with a launch timeline, Tecno also revealed certain key specifications of the handset. The Spark 20 Pro+ will join the Spark 20 lineup, which includes the Spark 20C, Spark 20, and the Spark 20 Pro. Although we still don’t have an exact launch date from Tecno, the smartphone has been listed on the official website.

Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ specifications

According to the official listing, the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ will be powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 Ultimate chipset. The handset will get up to 256GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM. Users will be able to expand the RAM to 16GB with 8GB virtual RAM. It will get a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with full-HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.

Coming to the cameras, the Spark 20 Pro+ will feature a 108-megapixel primary rear camera that uses a 1/1.67-inch sensor with F/1.75 aperture. From the images shared on the website, the phone appears to have a triple rear camera setup, but Tecno has only shared details about the main camera. On the front, the phone will get a 32-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls.

The handset will get a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. Tecno has also revealed that the Spark 20 Pro+ will offer IP53 dust and water resistance, a stereo dual speaker setup, and it’ll run Android 14-based HiOS 14 out-of-the-box. It’ll also feature the Dynamic Port feature, which is basically a replica of Apple’s Dynamic Island.

Finally, Tecno has also fully flaunted the design of the upcoming Spark 20 Pro+. It will be available in Temporal Orbits, Lunar Frost, and Radiant Starstream colour options. There will also be a fourth Magic Skin 2.0 Green colour, that will offer a glossy matte leather finish. We’re not sure about the launch date, but it is likely that Tecno will make the announcement soon.

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Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen unwittingly included phony cases generated by artificial intelligence in a brief last month arguing for his release from post-prison supervision, according to court papers made public Friday.

Cohen, who was disbarred in 2019 after pleading guilty to lying to Congress, said in a statement that he used Google’s AI tool Bard to come up with the cases and then sent them to his lawyer. The brief, filed in federal court in Manhattan, was in support of his request for an early end to requirements that he check in with a probation officer and get permission to travel outside the US.

David Schwartz, the lawyer who filed it, said he mistakenly believed the cases had been vetted by Danya Perry, an attorney who had represented Cohen, and that he didn’t check them himself. Perry requested in a letter to the court that “Mr. Schwartz’s mistake in filing a motion with invalid citations not be held against Mr. Cohen” and that the judge release him from supervision.

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In the wake of the legal faux pas, polite finger-pointing abounds.

The lawyers pointed to their client as the source of the bogus precedents, offering up his own admission that he had gotten the cases from Bard and failed to check them against standard legal research sources.

Cohen, for his part, said “it did not occur to me then – and remains surprising to me now – that Mr. Schwartz would drop the cases into his submission wholesale, without even confirming they existed.” He said he had thought of Bard as a “super-charged search engine” and not a service that would generate real-looking but phony legal cases.

The case is “a simple story of a client making a well-intentioned but poorly-informed suggestion,” trusting that his lawyer would vet the cases before relying on them in a brief, Perry said, arguing that Cohen is blameless. As for Schwartz, she said, he’s guilty only of an “embarrassing” mistake.

Lawyers’ Bane

Schwartz isn’t the first lawyer to find himself forced to explain AI-related errors in Manhattan federal court. In June two lawyers were fined $5,000 after a judge found they had cited phony cases, which had been generated by OpenAI Inc.’s ChatGPT, and then made misleading statements after he called the problem to their attention.

The use of AI for legal research has prompted judges across the country to issue standing orders governing its use. The federal appeals court in New Orleans is contemplating a rule requiring lawyers to certify either that “no generative artificial intelligence program was used” in drafting legal filings or that any AI-created work has been reviewed and approved by a human lawyer.

SpaceX’s powerful Falcon Heavy rocket lofted a secretive space plane for the US Space Force on Thursday evening from Florida, the first time the rocket was used to send the Boeing Co.-built experimental spacecraft to orbit.

The launch, which lifted off at 8:07 p.m. local time, marked the start of the seventh mission for the Space Force’s secretive spaceplane, the X-37B. Shaped like a mini-space shuttle, the X-37B is an uncrewed and reusable experimental test platform that the Defense Department deploys in orbit, sometimes for years at a time.

Prior to launch, which took place Thursday after several earlier delays, the X-37B’s most recent mission launched in May 2020, spending a record-setting 908 days in orbit. The vehicle’s mission came to an end in November 2022, with the X-37B returning from space and gliding to a runway at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility.

What the X-37B actually does while in orbit is not fully clear. During the vehicle’s last mission, a number of experiments were performed on the spacecraft, including research for NASA that examined how seeds react to being in space for long periods of time, and how certain materials fared when exposed to space.

The US Space Force has released limited details about what the X-37B’s current mission will entail. It “will expand the USSF’s knowledge of the space environment for future space domain awareness technologies,” the Space Force said in a statement.

The latest mission was the second time that the X-37B has flown on a SpaceX vehicle. The spacecraft also launched on top of a Falcon 9 in 2017.

As we stand on the cusp of 2024, the sector is poised for significant transformations, driven by technological advancements and a heightened focus on sustainability. Before beginning the new year, it’s imperative to examine the trends that will serve as guiding lights, leading businesses toward a future marked by prosperity and innovation.

Generative AI: Shaping the Future of Logistics for 2024 and Beyond

According to global research, the generative AI logistics market is set to surge from $412 million to an astonishing $13,948 million by 2032, showcasing a remarkable CAGR of 43.5%.North America is anticipated to lead this transformation, with a current market share standing at 43%. The potential of generative AI lies in its ability to minimise stockouts, optimise delivery routes, identify risks, and enhance resource allocation, promising a transformative impact on productivity.
The application of generative AI goes beyond routine tasks, offering real-time communication enhancements through AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants. This technology’s ability to forecast disruptions within supply chains, addressing issues like route deviations, unexpected weather anomalies, or breaches of Service Level Agreements, is particularly noteworthy. With generative AI applications like real-time fleet tracking and control towers, businesses can proactively identify potential delays and mitigate risks before they impact revenues.
Despite the significant growth in AI adoption, a McKinsey report reveals that there is still untapped potential, with less than one-third of organizations implementing AI across multiple business functions. The upcoming years are expected to witness a pivotal role for generative AI in reshaping logistics operations, ushering in an era of unparalleled efficiency and innovation.

Addressing Carbon Emissions: A Global Priority for Businesses

Reducing carbon emissions has become a top priority for logistics businesses globally. In 2024, the industry is placing heightened focus on cost, capacity, service, and most importantly, carbon footprint. The logistics response to carbon emissions varies across regions, each exhibiting unique approaches and challenges.
The United States, as the largest contributor to transportation emissions, is expected to take stronger initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in 2024. Indonesia is making progress driven by consumer demand for sustainability. The Middle East, a key player in global fuel production, is investing in technology to reduce carbon emissions. In contrast, India faces significant sustainability challenges, but logistics businesses are actively investing in solutions to address carbon emissions.

Quick Commerce Revolution to Make a Comeback

The global surge of quick commerce, an e-commerce model prioritizing ultra-fast deliveries within an hour, is gaining significant traction. In the United States, major players such as Gopuff, Instacart, and Getir are heavily investing in this trend, with anticipated revenues soaring to $30.8 billion by 2024. The quick commerce phenomenon is also spreading across regions like the Middle East and Indonesia, where substantial market growth is expected in the upcoming years.
India, known for its tech-savvy population, is witnessing a rapid surge in quick commerce adoption. Projections indicate a staggering annual growth rate of 49.5%, potentially propelling the market volume to $7.88 billion by 2027. This rapid rise of quick commerce is reshaping the logistics landscape, fueled by evolving consumer behaviors and heightened expectations for ultra-fast deliveries.

Embracing the Future: The Rise of Asset-Light Logistics

2024 witnesses a notable trend taking center stage in the logistics realm — the increasing favor towards an asset-light logistics model. This revolutionary strategy enables businesses to emphasize customer experiences while diminishing dependence on physical assets for operations, leading to decreased operational costs.
A substantial 67.5% of global companies opt for third-party logistics (3PL) providers to handle their transportation operations, with an additional 63.5% outsourcing their warehousing functions. The financial weight of transportation costs, accounting for over two-thirds of total business logistics expenses, is a key driver behind the rising adoption of the asset-light logistics approach.

Cloud-Based Revolution Set to Transform Logistics

In the dynamic business landscape of logistics, cloud-based solutions are emerging as a pivotal force, driving the digital transformation of operations. The widespread adoption of cloud-based solutions by enterprises is expected to reach new heights in 2024, offering advantages such as speed, cost-effectiveness, control, scalability, and security.
A report projects that within the next five years, a staggering 86% of supply chain-based companies will incorporate cloud computing into their operations, highlighting the growing recognition of the value of cloud-based solutions. The global cloud supply chain management market is predicted to skyrocket from USD 21.79 billion in 2022 to an estimated USD 71.93 billion by 2030, driven by a robust CAGR of 16.10%.
As businesses seek to navigate the evolving logistics landscape with greater agility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, the cloud-based revolution will play a pivotal role in reshaping the industry. Whether to build an on-premise solution or opt for a ready-made cloud-based solution is a crucial decision businesses will face, with both options presenting unique advantages and challenges.

After OpenAI launched its ChatGPT app on Android and iOS, Microsoft has followed suit. Just days after launching the Android app, Microsoft Copilot, the company’s AI chatbot integrated with the Bing search engine, is now available for iPhones too. The app has also been optimized for iPads and is available for iPadOS. The app, unlike its web avatar, is a standalone AI chatbot that can answer questions in both text as well as image formats. The app is free to use.

The Microsoft Copilot app for iOS can be accessed here. Interestingly, where ChatGPT only lets you access the GPT 3.5 version on the free account, Microsoft is letting you get access to GPT 4 through the Copilot app. On its app info page, it said, “Copilot is a pioneering chat assistant from Microsoft powered by the latest OpenAI models, GPT-4 and DALL E 3. These advanced AI technologies provide fast, complex, and precise responses, as well as the ability to create breathtaking visuals from simple text descriptions”.

Microsoft Copilot is available for iPhones

So, what exactly can the AI chatbot do? If you have used any AI chatbot this year, whether ChatGPT, Google Bard, or Grok AI, the Microsoft Copilot app can do all of that. It can draft emails, compose stories or scripts, summarize complex texts, translate texts from one language to another, create personalized itineraries, write job resumes, and much more. This is just using the app’s text-only feature.

Powered by DALL E 3, the copilot app can create images from simple text prompts and materialize your concepts to reality in a wide range of styles. The app can curate social media content, develop brand motifs, generate logo designs, create custom backgrounds, build and update a portfolio, create illustrations for books, and more.

The iPhone app has a size of 212 MB and it requires iOS 15 or above to work on your device. You will need a Microsoft account to access the full functionalities of the Microsoft Copilot app.

Elon Musk’s X Corp. lost its effort in court to block a California law that seeks to control toxic posts on social media by requiring companies to disclose their content-moderation polices. In an eight-page ruling Thursday, a federal judge in Sacramento rejected arguments by the company formerly known as Twitter that the measure violates the free-speech rights of social media platforms. The ruling comes after Musk ignited a firestorm in November by endorsing antisemitic posts on his platform. X Corp. Chief Executive Officer Linda Yaccarino scrambled to contain the fallout after major advertisers like Sony, Discovery, Apple and CBS stopped or paused spending on the site.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom said when he signed AB 587 in 2022 that it was designed to protect the public by demanding companies reveal their policies on hate speech, disinformation, harassment and extremism on their platforms, and report data on their enforcement of the policies.

But X Corp. complained in a September lawsuit that the law’s true intent is “to pressure social media platforms to ‘eliminate’ certain constitutionally protected content viewed by the state as problematic.”

Spokespersons for X Corp. and the office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

The US Supreme Court is considering whether Republican-backed laws in Florida and Texas violate the free-speech rights of social media companies by limiting their freedom to decide how material is presented and requiring detailed explanations for content-moderation decisions. The court will rule by the middle of 2024.

When Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, he vowed it would be free of censorship and reinstated formerly banned users while firing content moderators. Researchers have said that during Musk’s tenure, the platform has seen a spike in harmful content due to policy changes in content moderation.

The self-styled “free speech absolutist” went on to hire Yaccarino, who was an NBCUniversal ad executive, to help repair partnerships in the media industry and lure back advertisers.

Musk has blamed watchdog groups including the Anti-Defamation League, the Center for Countering Digital Hate and Media Matters for America for a slump in US advertising revenue on X. He said they have tried to kill the platform with false accusations about it being overloaded with harmful content. The organizations have denied Musk’s claims.

US District Judge William Shubb disagreed with X Corp.’s argument that the California law interferes with the company’s content screening process in violation of the Constitution.

“While the reporting requirement does appear to place a substantial compliance burden on social medial companies, it does not appear that the requirement is unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law,” Shubb wrote in his order.

Samung has slashed the price of its mid-range smartphone — Galaxy A54 5G. The smartphone comes in two variants and both of them have got a price drop. Both the variants of the smartphone has received a price cut of Rs 2,000 and the new price is reflecting on the official website of the company.
New price and more
Launched in March this year, the smartphone comes in two variants — 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB priced at Rs 38,999 and Rs 40,999 respectively.After the price cut, the customers can purchase the 128GB variant at Rs 36,999 and the 256GB version at Rs 38,999. The smartphone can be purchased in Awesome White, Awesome Lime, Awesome Violet and Awesome Graphite colour options. The company is also giving instant cashback of Rs 2,000 on Axis Bank credit card.
Samsung Galaxy A54 specifications
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a 6.4-inch FHD+ display, delivering a pixel resolution of 1080×2400 and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This 5G-enabled smartphone runs on Samsung’s Exynos 1380 chipset, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM. Users can choose between two storage options: 128GB and 256GB.
Operating on Android 13 with Samsung One UI 5.1, the Galaxy A54 supports dual SIM and features an in-display fingerprint sensor. The device is designed to resist dust and water, complemented by stereo speakers. Its robust 5000 mAh battery supports 25W fast charging.
For photography enthusiasts, the Galaxy A54 is equipped with a triple rear camera setup, including a 50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture, and a 5MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture, accompanied by an LED flash. On the front, there’s a 32MP selfie camera.

Oppo Reno 11 series could soon make its way to the Indian market. According to a tipster, the Oppo Reno 11 and Reno 11 Pro will probably launch in India as soon as next week. The phones have already been made official in China. Although Oppo hasn’t given any details on the India launch of the phones, it is teasing the launch of the Reno 11 series on its official website in Malaysia. The website also reveals the design and key features of the global variants of the Reno 11 series. It appears that the vanilla Oppo Reno 11 will feature a slightly different design globally compared to the China variant.

Tipster Ishan Agarwal suggested in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the Oppo Reno 11 series would launch in India and globally on January 11. Meanwhile, Oppo Malaysia has officially revealed that the Reno 11 series would launch in the country on January 11. It is likely that Oppo India may also start teasing the launch of the phones in India next week. The Oppo Malaysia website has also revealed some key specifications and design of the phones.

As per the teaser images posted on the Oppo Malaysia website, the vanilla Reno 11 could feature a slightly different design when compared to the China variant. The Reno 11 Pro, on the other hand, looks to carry the same design. The website also confirms that both smartphones will feature a 32-megapixel front facing camera and run on ColorOS 14. The Oppo Reno 11 will offer 67W fast charging, whereas the Reno 11 Pro will bring 80W fast charging to the table.

Oppo Reno 11 series specifications (China)

The Oppo Reno 11 gets a 6.7-inch OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC, triple rear cameras with a primary 50-megapixel Sony LYT600 sensor, and a 4,800mAh battery. The Reno 11 Pro offers a slightly larger 6.74-inch with 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, triple rear cameras led by a Sony IMX890 50-megapixel primary sensor, and a 4,700mAh battery. W

We should hear more about the Oppo Reno 11 series India launch in the coming week.

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If you have been planning to purchase a Realme smartphone, then this may be the right time to do so. Realme has announced the New Year Sale for its smartphones. The sale will start from January 1 and will go on till January 5, 2024. The sale is live on Amazon.in and Realme.com.
During the sale the company will be offering discounts on realme narzo 60 Pro series 5G, realme narzo 60x 5G, realme narzo N55, and realme narzo N53.
Offer details of smartphones on Amazon.in & realme.com

The cold dark winters and the bright sunny summer of Antarctica holds a secret in the ionosphere that scientists have traced recently. The day-night ionospheric density varied regardless of 24 hours of sunlight in summer and complete darkness in winter.
Decade-long ionospheric observations at Bharati station, Antarctica, found a substantial seasonal variation with maximum total electron count (TEC) in equinoctial months followed by the summer and winter.Such long-term studies can help understand effects of the ionosphere on satellite-based navigation and communication systems and to mitigate them.
The ionosphere is a part of Earth’s upper atmosphere, which is partially ionized extending from 100-1000km. The ionosphere at polar regions is highly dynamic and acts as a major energy sink for space weather events, and related processes in magnetosphere-ionosphere systems as the magnetic field lines are vertical in this region. The ionospheric observations in Antarctica are few compared to the Arctic region due to geographic limitations and limited number of stations.
A team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) have examined the long-term seasonal ionospheric observations at Indian Antarctica station Bharati between 2010 and 2022 and also with solar activity following Sun’s 11-year cycle.
It was observed that though there was no sunlight incidence throughout the day in winter months (polar nights) at Bharati station; a diurnal pattern was observed with peak ionospheric density near local noon. The day-night ionospheric density variations were observed regardless of 24 hours of sunlight in summer and complete darkness in winter. The scientists attributed the peak ionization to particle precipitation and transportation of convectional plasma from high latitudes. Also, the maximum ionospheric density in the summer months where 24 hours sunlight is present (polar days), was about twice more than that of polar nights at the Bharati region.
The study was published in the Journal of Polar Science. This kind of long-term studies will help us understand the effects of the ionosphere on satellite-based navigation and communication systems and to mitigate them.